Pictured, from left, APC Members Jon Garber, Mike Kissinger and Doug Ruch.

KOSCIUSKO — At the Kosciusko Area Plan Commission meeting held Wednesday, July 3, there was discussion surrounding a recent request by seven property owners to rezone properties from commercial to residential. 

The rezoning was requested to accommodate residents of Circle Drive subdivision, east of Warsaw just off of US 30.

The area, which is zoned commercial, was platted in March 1962 under the jurisdiction of the City of Warsaw Plan Commission. In 1975, the developer of the property requested the Area Plan Commission zone the property commercial. The developer later abandoned his plans for commercial development and decided to go back to residential development. 

Currently, there are homes on all lots in the subdivision that are zoned commercial. This rezoning would remedy the discrepancy and eliminate the need for a Board of Zoning Appeals hearing each time the residential uses were changed or altered. 

According to Area Plan Director Dan Richard, over the years plan commission staff has suggested that residents of the subdivision get together and have the entire area rezoned to residential so that there doesn’t need to be a hearing each time an individual wants their property rezoned. One of the property owners had begun the process of putting a petition together; however, the property owner dropped the hearing. APC members discussed whether they should look at proceeding.

“It’s a residential subdivision,” said Richard.

The board was uncomfortable moving forward without touching base with property owners who would be impacted. It was agreed that the other property owners in that subdivision should be notified before proceeding, in order to give those property owners an opportunity to oppose or address the proposed change. 

Richard suggested that the APC could send individual letters out to all Circle Drive subdivision residents advising them that the APC is beginning to consider a request for rezoning properties in that area. 

“We could let them know the petition had been dropped,” said Richard, “And ask, if an attempt were made to proceed would you object?”

This suggestion was approved, and the APC will be sending letters to Circle Drive subdivision residents.

The APC then heard a request by Joe Callahan, owner of Fahl Manufactured Homes, Warsaw, for preliminary plat approval of residential development on a 10.7-acre tract of ground in North Winds Subdivision, Warsaw.

After some discussion related to flooding, tree line, lot size, soil conditions and curb and gutter matching, the request was approved.